The Classification of Different Positions in Philosophy of Science

Abstract

An initial sketch is presented of a classification of different positions in the philosophy of science, aiming at conceptual clarification and the teaching of philosophy. After an example of how a term may have different meanings through history, a summary of different “types” of questions in philosophy of science is given. A general classification of philosophical worldviews is proposed, with emphasis being given to naturalism, which is divided into realist and “observationist” positions. After considering the definitions of pragmatism, a brief discussion is presented of the extension of these definitions to the metatheoretical level.